Arnold sat at his desk, tapping a pen restlessly against the surface. He looked out of his floor-to-ceiling office window, lost in thought, but something kept pulling his mind back to Ruby. He could not deny his attraction to Ruby even though he had just met her a few times.
He called his assistant, Miriam, into his office. "Miriam, I need you to find everything you can on a Ruby. She's a manager at one of our hotels. Discreetly, please."
Miriam raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Right away, Mr. Aagaard."
Minutes later, Miriam returned with a file, setting it gently on Arnold's desk. "Here's everything we have on Ms. Miller."
Arnold picked up the file, his pulse quickening as he read her full name: Ruby Miller. His breath caught. It couldn't be... could it?
His hands tightened around the file as the memory from five years ago flooded back—the blurry courthouse, the one-night stand, the morning he had woken up alone, unsure of what had even happened. He'd searched, but she had vanished. He'd thought he'd never find her.
And here she was, right under his nose. His heart felt heavy and light all at once. "Miriam," he muttered, barely able to contain himself, "thank you. That will be all."
Once she left, he took a deep breath, wiping away the moisture that pricked at the corners of his eyes. He had to see her. He had to know for certain.
He left his office in a rush, ignoring the questioning stares from his staff. As his driver sped toward the hotel, Arnold's thoughts raced. What would he say to her? How would she react?
But then, as they neared the hotel, something caught his eye. He saw Ruby standing on the sidewalk, holding the hand of a small girl with curly dark hair and big eyes. Ruby leaned down, brushing a stray lock of hair from the child's face and guiding her toward a yellow school bus.
Arnold's breath hitched. Ruby has a child?
A rush of emotions hit him like a tidal wave. Was he the father? Could that little girl possibly be his daughter?
"Turn around," Arnold commanded, his voice cracking slightly. The driver looked at him in the rearview mirror, puzzled but obeyed, and headed back to Arnold's office.
Back at his desk, Arnold ran a hand through his hair, feeling a mixture of shock and confusion. Just then, his phone buzzed, breaking his train of thought. It was his best friend, Felix.
"Arnold, what's going on? You left me hanging on those figures for the meeting tomorrow."
"Felix, I... I found her," Arnold managed, his voice thick with emotion.
"Found who?" Felix sounded baffled.
"The woman I married after that drunken night."
There was a pause on the other end before Felix laughed. "Oh, her. You mean you found Ruby Miller?"
"Yes, it's her," Arnold confirmed. "But Felix... I think she has a daughter."
Another silence, longer this time. "Wait, you think... you think you might be the father?"
Arnold nodded, as though Felix could see him. "I don't know. But the timeline... it's possible. What if I've missed out on five years with my own child?"
Felix was quiet, then spoke softly. "Arnold, you need to approach her. You've spent years searching for Ruby. She deserves to know. And if that little girl is yours... well, you have a lot to make up for."
Arnold stared at the floor, a painful realization settling in. "But... it's been so long. What if she hates me for disappearing? For leaving her alone?"
"Look, man," Felix said, his voice firmer, "you can't live in 'what-ifs'. She deserves the truth, and so do you. It's time you stopped running from this."
Arnold sighed, nodding as he ended the call. For the rest of the afternoon, he combed through Ruby's social media, trying to piece together what her life had been like without him. Each photo of Ruby with her daughter, Ariel, filled him with a strange sense of pride and guilt.
Ariel was a miniature version of Ruby, with her bright eyes and the same stubborn tilt to her chin. He couldn't tear his eyes away, feeling the weight of years he'd missed with her.
He stared at the screen, mind reeling. "Whether or not she's mine," he muttered, "she's my wife on paper. I can't ignore this."
♤♤♤
That evening, after hours of contemplation, Arnold made a decision. He picked up his phone and dialed Ruby's private number but she didnt pick up his call. He then decided to dial the hotel.
"Yes, I'd like to speak with Ms. Ruby Miller," he said to the receptionist. "It's regarding... a personal matter."
The receptionist paused, her tone respectful but hesitant. "I'm sorry, Mr. Aagaard, but I told Ms. Miller isn't in her office at the moment."
Arnold felt a flash of disappointment but quickly masked it. "No problem. Could you leave her a message? Let her know Arnold Aagaard would like to speak with her at her convenience."
Hanging up, Arnold leaned back in his chair, running a hand over his face. The waiting was agonizing, but he knew he couldn't push her too hard or fast. He'd wait for her response.
♤♤♤
The following morning, Ruby sat in her office, sorting through paperwork when her assistant, Kiko, poked his head in.
"Ms. Miller, you have a message from Mr. Arnold Aagaard. He'd like to meet with you."
Ruby's pen froze mid-air, her heart racing. "Arnold Aagaard?"
Kiko grinned. "Another date?. Want me to call him back?"
Ruby hesitated, then shook her head. "No... I'll reach out when I'm ready."
She sank back into her chair, feeling a mix of curiosity and trepidation. "Why didnt he call her private number directly"
As she picked up phone, she realised her the multiple missed calls from Arnold. "Oops"
She dialed Arnold's number, he picked up almost immediately the phone rang.
"Can I come pick you up this evening"
"Uhnnn" she thought about Ariel again. This was too impromptu. She has not discussed with her babysitter to take her tonight.
"I…don't think I can. I need.."
"To be there with your daughter?" he interjected before she could complete her statement.
How did he know she had a daughter? Was he stalking her?
"Yes" Ruby replied.
"Then she can come along" he paused for a moment "If it is okay by you Ruby Miller"